Ever Thought About Sponsoring A Poor Family?

[PaulUSA302]

On my first trip to Thailand, I came across a few homeless families. One that touched me was what I assumed to be a mother and father and two children sleeping on a dark storefront with the children's school clothes hanging neatly on the stores security gate. The children were sleeping next to the security gate and the parents were sleeping in such a way as to protect the children.....

Then I saw a slum that I mistook for an abandoned area. When I was taking pictures I was startled when some kids came out of what looked to be a tin structure and were playing as if it were normal (and it was normal for them). Then I looked at the community a little more and noticed clothes hanging on a clothesline and the longer I watch the more signs of life....

At one point I thought of coming to Thailand with a ATM card that I could reload and I would give this card to a needy family and let them know that each month the card will give them access to 4,000 baht. each month for 1 or 2 years....

I never did it, but I think abut it often..... One thing I do is budget money for the poor when I plan my vacation in Thailand.

Here in the USA when I see a person asking for money.... Well.. They are bums! We have far too-many programs to help the homeless!

In Thailand I seem to become charitable.... In the USA... I expect more from those who claim to be in need. I won't give a fellow American money but I will buy them food or give them clothing and medicine....

Besides.... in Thailand... 4,000 baht can do a lot more in Thailand than it could in the USA..

(No, I am not rich and 4,000 baht a month would be felt by me).

Have any of you considered sponsoring? Or have any of you skipped the "organized charities" and gone directly to the people when it comes to your charity?

[pointofview]

I think you may find that there are inumerable ferangs already sponsoring poor thai familes. I personaly have sponsored familys for almost 30 years, alas!

A kind thought indeed!

[endure]

Giving money to one family in a village can cause problems with the rest of the villagers. There are good charities where you can sponsor a child but your money goes towards village projects agreed by the villagers themselves.

[yorkman]

I think you may find that there are inumerable ferangs already sponsoring poor thai familes. I personaly have sponsored familys for almost 30 years, alas!

A kind thought indeed!

I feel inadequate. Only 12 years. And when a "subtle" request comes in (errrr it has once) I raised the middle digit and so politely requested that they swivel on that. My wife, my kids, and if they really need help (as people and relatives, that is fine), I have helped out. Other than that, no.

[IMA_FARANG]

On my first trip to Thailand, I came across a few homeless families. One that touched me was what I assumed to be a mother and father and two children sleeping on a dark storefront with the children's school clothes hanging neatly on the stores security gate. The children were sleeping next to the security gate and the parents were sleeping in such a way as to protect the children.....

Then I saw a slum that I mistook for an abandoned area. When I was taking pictures I was startled when some kids came out of what looked to be a tin structure and were playing as if it were normal (and it was normal for them). Then I looked at the community a little more and noticed clothes hanging on a clothesline and the longer I watch the more signs of life....

At one point I thought of coming to Thailand with a ATM card that I could reload and I would give this card to a needy family and let them know that each month the card will give them access to 4,000 baht. each month for 1 or 2 years....

I never did it, but I think abut it often..... One thing I do is budget money for the poor when I plan my vacation in Thailand.

Here in the USA when I see a person asking for money.... Well.. They are bums! We have far too-many programs to help the homeless!

In Thailand I seem to become charitable.... In the USA... I expect more from those who claim to be in need. I won't give a fellow American money but I will buy them food or give them clothing and medicine....

Besides.... in Thailand... 4,000 baht can do a lot more in Thailand than it could in the USA..

(No, I am not rich and 4,000 baht a month would be felt by me).

Have any of you considered sponsoring? Or have any of you skipped the "organized charities" and gone directly to the people when it comes to your charity?

Well, yes I have. It is called my Thai family. I have been supporting my Thai girl-friend and her 3 childen, 2 or 3 relatives (on ocassion), and now one grandchild since about 1980. I put them through school and provided a home for them. I doubt that I will ever get any recognition for it, but i don't expect that or really care. I did it because I loved them.

It would be nice to be able to retire in Thailand with them. Hopefully the Thai government will recognise that. If I have the money/financial security for the Visa and the annual extension as required by Thai immigration law.

[YoungAndRice]

id be paranoid the parents have drug alcohol problems if theyre homeless. id rather give to a charity.

[kankaroo]

Hmmm, good idea and I think you are a "jai dee" person. However I don't know if it would cause more harm than good ?

When walking about BKK one night I saw the most pathetic sight, an old man and woman lying on the street (Pahonyothin) emptying out rotten pieces of fruit they had collected from some bin. Wasn't the first time I came across this scene but this one somehow hit me particularly hard. They were older than my parents and were getting ready to eat that rancid crap straight off the street. I walled until I found a BBQ chicken stall and bought tons of the stuff, Issan sausage, the lot. When I walked back and gave it to them I felt better than I had felt for a while.

Now I do this sort of thing all the time but I wonder "OK that was a good night for them, but what about tomorrow ?"

I like your idea but if you are to go ahead with this I would definitely check that your cash was not spent on booze drugs or gambling etc. You might end up causing a problem instead of solving one !

Sorry my post was not more helpful of concise, but it is my 2 satang ! Chock Dee

[PaulUSA302]

Giving money to one family in a village can cause problems with the rest of the villagers. There are good charities where you can sponsor a child but your money goes towards village projects agreed by the villagers themselves.

That is a good point.... The only reason I tend to shy away from organized charities is that when I was a child, my mother made sure we all gave our time to help others and as a child I saw more theft and cheating by those who received the donations. If a person gave cash it would go into a pocket, the same pocket that they reached into to pay for their lunch. If 10 hams were donated, one ham that I know of made it into the trunk of a car...

I like to give directly but your example shows how that can be a bad thing.

[pointofview]

Giving money to one family in a village can cause problems with the rest of the villagers. There are good charities where you can sponsor a child but your money goes towards village projects agreed by the villagers themselves.

That is a good point.... The only reason I tend to shy away from organized charities is that when I was a child, my mother made sure we all gave our time to help others and as a child I saw more theft and cheating by those who received the donations. If a person gave cash it would go into a pocket, the same pocket that they reached into to pay for their lunch. If 10 hams were donated, one ham that I know of made it into the trunk of a car...

I like to give directly but your example shows how that can be a bad thing.

The percentage of money donated to many organized charities that actually goe to the cause can be as little as 1 percent. Organized indeed!

[Macx]

Not a bag thing, Paul.

Don't pass up a chance to do a favor for someone else when it costs you so little.

Take for example the family you mentioned. There are apartments that rent for as little as 1,000/mo.

Even school fees here are considerable for a poor family.

When give you someone 1,000bhat (for example), don't go out to a nice dinner that night. Instead, eat a plate meal at the local diner and think of how forgoing a bit for one evening, a poor family has a roof over their head for a month or that their children can go to school for that month.

There are a some very good small charity organizations too.

I no longer support the major charities after seeing firsthand how wasteful they are, how well they pay themselves, and how well they treat themselves.

[pointofview]

Play on words here:

Have you ever thought of poisening a poor family

[endure]

Giving money to one family in a village can cause problems with the rest of the villagers. There are good charities where you can sponsor a child but your money goes towards village projects agreed by the villagers themselves.

That is a good point.... The only reason I tend to shy away from organized charities is that when I was a child, my mother made sure we all gave our time to help others and as a child I saw more theft and cheating by those who received the donations. If a person gave cash it would go into a pocket, the same pocket that they reached into to pay for their lunch. If 10 hams were donated, one ham that I know of made it into the trunk of a car...

I like to give directly but your example shows how that can be a bad thing.

The percentage of money donated to many organized charities that actually goe to the cause can be as little as 1 percent. Organized indeed!

The charity that I had in mind spends 81% of contributions on charitable work although it appears from their that they're no longer offering Thailand as a sponsorship destination to US citizens.

[pointofview]

Giving money to one family in a village can cause problems with the rest of the villagers. There are good charities where you can sponsor a child but your money goes towards village projects agreed by the villagers themselves.

That is a good point.... The only reason I tend to shy away from organized charities is that when I was a child, my mother made sure we all gave our time to help others and as a child I saw more theft and cheating by those who received the donations. If a person gave cash it would go into a pocket, the same pocket that they reached into to pay for their lunch. If 10 hams were donated, one ham that I know of made it into the trunk of a car...

I like to give directly but your example shows how that can be a bad thing.

The percentage of money donated to many organized charities that actually goe to the cause can be as little as 1 percent. Organized indeed!

The charity that I had in mind spends 81% of contributions on charitable work although it appears from their that they're no longer offering Thailand as a sponsorship destination to US citizens.

Not one of the bigger ones then! I obviously have nothing against charities - but the bigger ones often take care of themselfs as a priority. Lot of jobs for the boys! Better to give direct to a cause - i think.

[yorkman]

I like to give directly......

So.....errrr just do it, unless you want recognition for your "good deeds" on an internet forum

[endure]

Giving money to one family in a village can cause problems with the rest of the villagers. There are good charities where you can sponsor a child but your money goes towards village projects agreed by the villagers themselves.

That is a good point.... The only reason I tend to shy away from organized charities is that when I was a child, my mother made sure we all gave our time to help others and as a child I saw more theft and cheating by those who received the donations. If a person gave cash it would go into a pocket, the same pocket that they reached into to pay for their lunch. If 10 hams were donated, one ham that I know of made it into the trunk of a car...

I like to give directly but your example shows how that can be a bad thing.

The percentage of money donated to many organized charities that actually goe to the cause can be as little as 1 percent. Organized indeed!

The charity that I had in mind spends 81% of contributions on charitable work although it appears from their that they're no longer offering Thailand as a sponsorship destination to US citizens.

Not one of the bigger ones then! I obviously have nothing against charities - but the bigger ones often take care of themselfs as a priority. Lot of jobs for the boys! Better to give direct to a cause - i think.

"Who we are and what we do

Founded 70 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest international development agencies in the world. We work in 49 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Plan directly supports more than 1,500,000 children and their families, and indirectly supports an estimated further 9,000,000 people who live in communities that are working with Plan.

Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Our vision

Plan’s vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity.

Our mission

Plan works to achieve lasting improvements for children living in poverty in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives. Read our mission statement.

What we do

Plan works with children, their families, communities, organisations and local governments to implement programs at grassroots level in health, education, water and sanitation, income generation and cross-cultural communication.

We ensure that children are involved in all aspects of our programs, working with adults who have learnt to value their contribution.

We protect and promote children’s rights, helping millions of children to take an active role in their own development. Read our approach.

Child sponsorship

Plan’s work is made possible thanks to nearly 1,100,000 people in 17 donor countries who support us by sponsoring a child. An average 80% of donations goes directly to support programs benefiting children and families."

[PaulUSA302]

Sorry my post was not more helpful of concise, but it is my 2 satang ! Chock Dee

Your post was very helpful...

One night when I was in Silom... It must have been about 3am... I only had a couple more days in Thailand before I returned home so I was becoming more generous with my money. (I don't know why I do that but I wish I would stop it!). I was entering the McDonald's and noticed a mother and child sleeping by the big window on cardboard. I wanted to give to her but I had an internal fight telling me that she is sleeping in that spot in the hopes for donations.

Now there were lots of people on the steps leading-up to McDonald's.... And just when I decided that when I finish eating I would give her 500 baht. Just at that moment a Farang Lady exited the McDonald's, walked over to the mother and gave her some paper money.

Then, out of nowhere a Thai-guy in his 20's walked past her with his eyes focused on her. Then he walked past her again, first looking at her and then looking around. I was done eating and on his 3rd pass and still being focused on the mother who just received a donation didn't notice me as I walked up to him. He looked a little startled at first... I held out my hand and said hello. He held out his hand as if waiting for me to drop money in it. I looked him over and everything about him said he was having a hard time at life...

He did ask for some money and I asked him if he want to eat or want money. He choose to eat. I asked him where did he want to eat and he pointed at the McDonald's. We both walked up to the counter and the girl looked at me. I looked at my new friend and asked him to get anything he wanted. He placed his order and I think it came to about 200 baht. I decided I would not sit and watch him eat so I gave him the 500 baht I had planned to give to the sleeping mother. When I put it in his hand, his lips became tight, his eyes began to tear and his gave a breathing snort through his nose the way I did when I was a kid holding back tears before I began to cry.

That touched me in a way that I can't explain... I felt that I helped out a person that truly needed it and they appreciated it.

On my return I was looking for the MAGIC to happen again... It didn't... I had a hard time finding people in need that were not professional needy who work the streets.

[paulfr]

I guess cynical old me is the only one who thinks the OP is a TROLL.

Cmon ..... Nearly every sex tourist and expat in Thailand is supporting a poor family in exchange for the company and body of a sweet sexy TG.

It really can't be avoided.

[skipvice]

any body recomend a charity organization or a local one for Thailand?

[yorkman]

I began to cry.

She touched me in a way that I can't explain...

I can

[pointofview]

Giving money to one family in a village can cause problems with the rest of the villagers. There are good charities where you can sponsor a child but your money goes towards village projects agreed by the villagers themselves.

That is a good point.... The only reason I tend to shy away from organized charities is that when I was a child, my mother made sure we all gave our time to help others and as a child I saw more theft and cheating by those who received the donations. If a person gave cash it would go into a pocket, the same pocket that they reached into to pay for their lunch. If 10 hams were donated, one ham that I know of made it into the trunk of a car...

I like to give directly but your example shows how that can be a bad thing.

The percentage of money donated to many organized charities that actually goe to the cause can be as little as 1 percent. Organized indeed!

The charity that I had in mind spends 81% of contributions on charitable work although it appears from their that they're no longer offering Thailand as a sponsorship destination to US citizens.

Not one of the bigger ones then! I obviously have nothing against charities - but the bigger ones often take care of themselfs as a priority. Lot of jobs for the boys! Better to give direct to a cause - i think.

"Who we are and what we do

Founded 70 years ago, Plan is one of the oldest and largest international development agencies in the world. We work in 49 developing countries across Africa, Asia and the Americas.

Plan directly supports more than 1,500,000 children and their families, and indirectly supports an estimated further 9,000,000 people who live in communities that are working with Plan.

Plan is independent, with no religious, political or governmental affiliations.

Our vision

Plan's vision is of a world in which all children realise their full potential in societies that respect people's rights and dignity.

Our mission

Plan works to achieve lasting improvements for children living in poverty in developing countries, through a process that unites people across cultures and adds meaning and value to their lives. Read our mission statement.

What we do

Plan works with children, their families, communities, organisations and local governments to implement programs at grassroots level in health, education, water and sanitation, income generation and cross-cultural communication.

We ensure that children are involved in all aspects of our programs, working with adults who have learnt to value their contribution.

We protect and promote children's rights, helping millions of children to take an active role in their own development. Read our approach.

Child sponsorship

Plan's work is made possible thanks to nearly 1,100,000 people in 17 donor countries who support us by sponsoring a child. An average 80% of donations goes directly to support programs benefiting children and families."

I personally dont trust organized charitys - they often attract the wrong kind of people - like Sir Bob Geldoph and Bono

Edited December 28, 2007 by pointofview

[PaulUSA302]

I like to give directly......

So.....errrr just do it, unless you want recognition for your "good deeds" on an internet forum

In all honesty, I make these posts to have a conversation and to learn others points of view. I think it is also a help to those who never been to Thailand and are thinking about going or those who are about to go....

By reading our posts.... Even our charitable posts.... Something in the conversation may be of help to them when they are walking the streets of Thailand.

You can give me recognition on my good deeds, but since I don't know you and you don't know me... the recognition is as valuable as the paper it was written on.

[pointofview]

I like to give directly......

So.....errrr just do it, unless you want recognition for your "good deeds" on an internet forum

In all honesty, I make these posts to have a conversation and to learn others points of view. I think it is also a help to those who never been to Thailand and are thinking about going or those who are about to go....

By reading our posts.... Even our charitable posts.... Something in the conversation may be of help to them when they are walking the streets of Thailand.

You can give me recognition on my good deeds, but since I don't know you and you don't know me... the recognition is as valuable as the paper it was written on.

Paul i am glad to see you have adopted the term 'point of view' and are using it quite often in your posts. If only more posters could see the light

[yorkman]

I guess cynical old me is the only one who thinks the OP is a TROLL.

Not only you But without mod intervention they will carry on and on

[skipvice]

any body recomend a charity organization or a local one for Thailand?

I say again, anybody have a name and address of a Thailand charity that is for helping a poor family? I may be interested in helping if I can find a good Charity.

[Macx]

Check out the Bangkok Post. They regularly have features on needy children and have set up monitored channels for sponsors to help the kids (most of whom are orphans living with extended family).

I have the info of a kids home a Thai man is running for Burmese orphans in the north near the Burma border; however, I don't have it on me. Will post/PM info in two weeks when I get back home. His organization is legit and was also featured in the BK Post.

[Dakhar]

I am not sure if I would call it sponsor, more like a benefactor.

One year was the agreement.... but I care not to know what happens to the money, but truthfully, I fear the worse...

But we do what we can.... and only hope for the best.

To the poster asking about charity organizations, google, Burbon Street Thailand. The restaraunt owner is an American that is heavily involved in charities in Thailand.

[cm-happy]

PaulUSA,

Dont let the cynics here get you down. Be jai dee as much as you can.

Something in the American character that promotes cheerful charity and a willingness to help others not as fortunate as ourselves.

To get back on topic, I don't sponsor a family nor will I ever( except my b/f's family), individuals YES!

GIVE A MAN A FISH AND YOU FEED HIM FOR ONE DAY. TEACH A MAN TO FISH AND YOU FEED HIM FOR LIFE.

My charity here in LOS has been guided by this! Pay for school expenses, uniforms tuition etc as well as housing, living expenes for students. This is an on going effort and am currently helping out three Thai students. Am proud to say they are all doing very well in uni. Hopefully when they graduate they'll get good jobs and be able to care for their families themselves.

Have been doing this for the last 5 years. To date not one of them has dissappointed me. The high point of my year is when I'm invited to attend their graduation ceremonies.

[mr_hippo]

The percentage of money donated to many organized charities that actually goe to the cause can be as little as 1 percent. Organized indeed!

Most Brits wear a poppy on Remembrance Day but at one time as little as 4% of the monies donated went to ex-servicemen.

Oxfam sent £35,000 to a West African nation in the late 60's but the President of the country spent £28,500 of it on his daughter's wedding.

Sri Lanka were given a few vehicles to aid tsunami relief but they also wanted someone to pay the VAT on them!

You want to save the whale? Donate to Greenpeace but I wonder if your donation is going to save the whale or paying the fine imposed on Greenpeace.

Bob Geldorf was a failed pop star before BandAid now.....

I have been told that the beggars at tourists attractions are bussed in every day to start their 'shift' and that their boss takes the most of their donations. I never give them money - sometimes I give them a drink or something to eat.

The Bangkok Post and the needy children - I wonder how many are orphaned and how many have spun the Post a tale and their mothers are working in Bangkok or Pattaya.

[jazzbo]

To qualify as a 'charitable' contribution under USA IRS regulations, the value given must exceed the value received:

Contributions From Which You Benefit

If you receive a benefit as a result of making a contribution to a qualified organization, you can deduct only the amount of your contribution that is more than the value of the benefit you receive.

If you pay more than fair market value to a qualified organization for merchandise, goods,

or services

, the amount you pay that is more than the value of the item can be a charitable contribution. For the excess amount to qualify, you must pay it

with the intent

to make a charitable contribution.

As you receive a service from supporting your significant other's family, such cannot be considered a charitable contribution. And if your 'support' of your Thai significant other's extended family does not exceed the tangible/intangible benefit you receive, you are being cheated.

Selfless contribution, such as CM-Happy describes, is another story. The INtangible value there is all that matters.

[HDRIDER]

Hi

I don’t give to charity and that’s it, but I give to needed people and we raised a lot of money after the tsunami, but I saw where some of the money given to charity after the tsunami went, and it was not the needed people there got them.

So charity, no way.